Career

Black women with a bachelor's degree earn less than white men with no degree at all. Read that again. A four-year degree. The student loans. The nights in the library. The graduation ceremony. The job applications requiring "Bachelor's required." And still. Less than a man with some college and no diploma. It gets worse. Black women need a master's degree just to slightly exceed what white men earn with an associate's. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐡: Black women, bachelor's degree: $60,900 White men, associate's degree: $67,190 Black women, master's degree: $72,450 A master's degree. Six more years of education. To earn $5,000 more than a man with a two-year degree. They told us the gap was about skills. They told us the gap was about credentials. They told us if we just got more degrees, the money would follow. The money followed. It just followed white men who never enrolled. 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐩™ More degrees don't close the gap. They widen it. Black women with professional degrees—law, medicine—earn just 65 cents per dollar compared to white men with the same degrees. The most credentialed Black women face the widest gap. We're not under-educated. We're under-valued. And no diploma fixes a valuation problem. The solution isn't another degree. It's documentation of the value you already create. It's knowing your replacement cost. It's invoicing at market rate instead of accepting their discount. They built a system where our credentials subsidize their payroll. Time to build our own math. What credential were you told would "finally" close the gap? Thank You; It's True™ #BlackWomensWealthLab #DocumentEverything #TheCredentialTrap

Does becoming a parent affect academic trajectories? Yes, and particularly so for women: 🔹University employment drops by almost 30 percent for women, much less so for men. 🔹Probability of being tenured is about 35 percent lower for women, no change for men. 🔹Number of publications is 31 to 35 percent lower for women, no change for men. These are among the key results of a new study by Sofie Cairo, Ria Ivandic, Anne Sophie Lassen, and Valentina Tartari using rich Danish admin data. Why do women’s and men’s career trajectories diverge sharply after parenthood? The paper studies a series of candidate explanations and finds that the gap in childcare load seems mainly responsible: "women academics do almost five times more childcare than their male academic counterparts. For example, 55% of female researchers get up at night to take care of the child most or all the time, in comparison to 11% of men". Read the full paper here: Sofie Cairo, Ria Ivandic, Anne Sophie Lassen, and Valentina Tartari (2026), Parenthood and the career ladder: evidence from academia, Centre for Economic Performance discussion paper: https://lnkd.in/eK2gWzSb

Landing interviews but getting rejected? It’s because you’re summarizing instead of selling. Here’s how to fix it in 9 easy steps (so you can land more offers): 1. A Hard Truth About Interviews Here’s a hard truth: Companies don’t really care about your past experience. Instead, they care about the future value you can offer them if they hire you. Sure, they’ll use your background to try to gauge that future value. But this distinction is critical to make. 2. Too Many People Summarize Most job seekers spend their interviews summarizing. They talk about their past experience. Then they hope it’s what interviewers want to hear. Problem is, with that approach, we’re leaving it up to the interviewer to connect the dots to what’s most important: your future value to them. 3. The Downside Of Summarizing If your interviewer isn’t able to connect the dots? You’re not making it to the next round. But here’s the good news: Because so many job seekers do this, taking a new approach will actually differentiate you from the crowd. Here’s what to do: 4. Start With Research First, learn everything you can about the company’s goals and challenges: - Read news articles - Listen to earnings calls - Find interviews with leadership - Watch / read product reviews - Speak to employees - Etc. This is how you’ll understand the biggest reasons they’re hiring for this role. 5. Use The “In Preparation” Technique As you draft your answers, aim to start each of them with a statement that: Starts with “in preparation for this conversation” Lays out the research you did Specifically calls out the biggest goals / challenges that you found 6. Close With The Offer Of Ideas Share your normal STAR-based answer, then close with this offer: “If you’re open to it, I’ve been brainstorming some ideas for how I can help your team [Reach Goal / Overcome Challenge]. If you’re open to it, I’d love to share a few of them with you.” 7. “Summary” Answer Example ❌ Say the interview asks, “tell me about a time you overcame a challenge?” Most people will summarize: “In my last role, we ran into [Challenge]. I did X, Y, and Z to fix it. That led to [Outcome].” Then they cross their fingers and hope it was what the interviewer wanted to hear. 8. Example Of “Personalized Selling” ✅ Now take the same question, but apply this post’s framework: “In preparation for this conversation, I spoke to 3 people on the team and listened to [CEO]’s keynote at [Conference]. Based on that, it’s my understanding that the #1 reason you’re hiring for this role is to overcome [Challenge]. Let me share an example of how I helped [Previous Company] overcome that same challenge, and – if you’re open to it – let me share a few ideas I’ve been brainstorming too.” See The Difference? The first answer does nothing to show the interviewer your future value. The second shows the interviewer you did your research, you’ve done this before, and you already have ideas for how you can help.

In companies where productivity has increased by 50%, creativity has doubled, and employee satisfaction is at an all-time high, one surprising change stands out: ditching the outdated obsession with time tracking. Too many managers are stuck in an outdated paradigm, fixating on: • When employees clock in • How long they sit at their desks • Micromanaging daily schedules But we’ve hired smart, capable professionals. Treating them like children who need constant supervision is not just demeaning – it's counterproductive. However, it's crucial to maintain a balance. While micromanagement is detrimental, companies still need to ensure discipline and focus on key priorities. The goal is to empower employees while aligning their efforts with organizational objectives. That’s why one needs to focus on result-focused management: 1. Shift your metrics: Focus on project milestones, work quality, and client satisfaction instead of hours logged. 2. Embrace flexibility: Allow flexible hours and remote work when possible. Trust employees to manage their time effectively. 3. Cultivate a culture of trust: Communicate openly about priorities and challenges. Reward results, not face time. Promote work-life balance and well-being. Companies like Netflix, Basecamp, and Atlassian have implemented results-only work environments (ROWE) with remarkable success. They report higher employee engagement, better outcomes, and a more dynamic, innovative workplace culture. What's one positive outcome you've experienced (as a manager or employee) when given more autonomy at work? #Leadership #EmployeeEmpowerment #WorkplaceCulture

I went from PhD to lectureship.  Everyone said congratulations.  No one told me what was coming. The title changed. But behind it... I was drowning. Not because I wasn't capable. But because I wasn't prepared for what was actually waiting on the other side. So if you're a PhD student thinking of staying in academia, hear me out. 𝟭. 𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴. Academia isn't just teaching and research. It's course design, exam setting, marking, committees, paper reviews, endless emails, supervision at every level, admin, advising, progression reviews, examiner duties, public engagement, grant applications, paper publications, impact generation... Some days I switch between 5 tasks before lunch. BTW, I also had to take a compulsory 2-year part-time course (postgraduate certificate of academic practice) when I started... sitting in lectures and submitting coursework on top of everything else. If you don't see it coming, it will flatten you. --- 𝟮. 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘄. I thought I'd have time to do research like I did during my PhD. But that vanished immediately. When I asked others how they manage,  they said: collaborators, research students, postdocs. But I started during the pandemic. No conferences. No networking.  No way to meet people. And when things opened up again... I was already drowning in tasks. Trying to build relationships from scratch while the clock was ticking felt impossible. Start now during your PhD.  Find your people before you desperately need them. --- 𝟯. 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗳𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆. I didn't even fully understand what a fellowship was until I was already overwhelmed. It pays your salary and protects your time for research. No teaching overload. No drowning in admin. If research is your priority, start exploring these before you even finish your PhD. Don't wait until you're gasping for air. --- The jump from PhD to academia doesn't have to break you. But only if you prepare while you still have time. What's ONE thing you wish you knew before starting your academic career?

I constantly get recruiter reachouts from big tech companies and top AI startups- even when I’m not actively job hunting or listed as “Open to Work.” That’s because over the years, I’ve consciously put in the effort to build a clear and consistent presence on LinkedIn- one that reflects what I do, what I care about, and the kind of work I want to be known for. And the best part? It’s something anyone can do- with the right strategy and a bit of consistency. If you’re tired of applying to dozens of jobs with no reply, here are 5 powerful LinkedIn upgrades that will make recruiters come to you: 1. Quietly activate “Open to Work” Even if you’re not searching, turning this on boosts your visibility in recruiter filters. → Turn it on under your profile → “Open to” → “Finding a new job” → Choose “Recruiters only” visibility → Specify target titles and locations clearly (e.g., “Machine Learning Engineer – Computer Vision, Remote”) Why it works: Recruiters rely on this filter to find passive yet qualified candidates. 2. Treat your headline like SEO + your elevator pitch Your headline is key real estate- use it to clearly communicate role, expertise, and value. Weak example: “Software Developer at XYZ Company” → Generic and not searchable. Strong example: “ML Engineer | Computer Vision for Autonomous Systems | PyTorch, TensorRT Specialist” → Role: ML Engineer → Niche: computer vision in autonomous systems → Tools: PyTorch, TensorRT This structure reflects best practices from experts who recommend combining role, specialization, technical skills, and context to stand out. 3. Upgrade your visuals to build trust → Use a crisp headshot: natural light, simple background, friendly expression → Add a banner that reinforces your brand: you working, speaking, or a tagline with tools/logos Why it works: Clean visuals increase profile views and instantly project credibility. 4. Rewrite your “About” section as a human story Skip the bullet list, tell a narrative in three parts: → Intro: “I’m an ML engineer specializing in computer vision models for autonomous systems.” → Expertise: “I build end‑to‑end pipelines using PyTorch and TensorRT, optimizing real‑time inference for edge deployment.” → Motivation: “I’m passionate about enabling safer autonomy through efficient vision AI, let’s connect if you’re building in that space.” Why it works: Authentic storytelling creates memorability and emotional resonance . 5. Be the advocate for your work Make your profile act like a portfolio, not just a resume. → Under each role, add 2–4 bullet points with measurable outcomes and tools (e.g., “Reduced inference latency by 35% using INT8 quantization in TensorRT”) → In the Featured section, highlight demos, whitepapers, GitHub repos, or tech talks Give yourself five intentional profile upgrades this week. Then sit back and watch recruiters start reaching you, even in today’s competitive market.

NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang’s best career advice: “Passion isn’t enough, you’ve got to endure.” I believe "Follow your passion” is the most overhyped career advice on earth If someone’s telling you to “just follow your passion,” they’re probably already living in abundance! Here’s the uncomfortable truth: Passion usually follows mastery, not the other way around. Get good first. Then the prestige, pay, confidence, and interesting problems make you… passionate. A better playbook that I followed: Pick something you can be great at. One clear lane, real demand. Go deep for a decade. Reps > inspiration. Grit beats vibes. Measure progress, not feelings. Hard day ≠ wrong path. Work is hard, expect injustice, friction, and boredom. Earn the right to edit. Mastery buys you optionality: interesting projects, better teams, better life. Early on, balance is a tradeoff. Most meaningful careers require a season of asymmetric effort. Later, mastery lets you buy back balance, time, control, boundaries. Do your passions on weekends Don’t ask: “Do I love this today?” Ask: “Can I become great at this, and is it worth being great at?” That’s how you build a career you’re proud of and yes, one you might just become passionate about. What do you think?

India’s green economy is growing fast but LinkedIn data suggests green talent is growing even faster. The LinkedIn Hiring Rate (LHR) for green talent — defined as professionals with green skills, green job titles, or both — is now 59.7% higher than for the overall workforce. This means green-skilled professionals are significantly more likely to be hired than their peers, underscoring the growing demand for sustainability-focused roles. “The prioritisation of green talent by Indian companies is being fuelled by an interplay of policy reforms, rising consumer consciousness, and the need for deep business transformation,” says Neelima Burra, Chief Strategy, Transformation, and Marketing Officer at Luminous Power Technologies. “Government initiatives like the PM Suryaghar Yojna, National Solar Mission, and Smart City Mission, combined with the growing mandate for ESG reporting — are also pushing companies to recruit sustainability experts, carbon auditors, and ESG strategists to meet regulatory and investor expectations,” she adds further. Operational efficiency has emerged as the top skill across the top five industries increasingly hiring for green skills, as per LinkedIn data. In contrast, precision agriculture skills lead in farming, ranching, and forestry — highlighting how sector-specific green skills are evolving. “Operational efficiency offers the fastest route to tangible returns. It moves the conversation beyond regulatory compliance to net profitability, ensuring we can do more with less energy and fewer materials,” says Venu Nuguri Managing Director and CEO at Hitachi Energy. This surge in demand aligns with broader economic trends. Green jobs in India have grown over 10 times in the past five years, with Gen Z accounting for 63% of applicants, reports The Economic Times, citing a report by WeNaturalists. The projections are equally ambitious. India’s green economy will generate 7.29 million jobs by FY28 and 35 million by 2047, as the sector scales toward a $1 trillion valuation by 2030 and $15 trillion by 2070, suggests another report by The Economic Times, citing a report by NLB Services. The message is clear: green skills aren’t just good for the planet — they’re becoming essential for employability. As India accelerates its climate and economic goals, the workforce is already adapting. The question now is whether education, training, and policy can keep pace. Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/g873CzHT #COP30 #GreenerTogether Source: The Economic Times: https://lnkd.in/d-3bShQP  The Economic Times: https://lnkd.in/dSUMFS58 

Law school taught me the law. But building a career? That’s a different story. Many years ago, I walked into my first day as a lawyer, armed with my 2nd Upper Degree, thinking I was ready. I WAS NOT. Here are 12 lessons I learnt the hard way: (I wish someone had shared with me before I started) 1️⃣ It’s Okay to Ask for Help Pretending to know everything? Rookie mistake. Ask questions. Get clarity. Even top-tier lawyers do. 2️⃣ Networking > Billable Hours Winning cases builds a reputation, but relationships build careers. That partner you avoid at events? Talk to them. 3️⃣ Reputation Is Currency Every email. Every call. They all shape how people see you. Guard your reputation like it’s your most valuable client. 4️⃣ Billing ≠ Just Hours Worked It’s not about grinding for numbers—it’s about delivering value. (And yes, padding your billables will get you noticed—for all the wrong reasons.) 5️⃣ Clients Crave More Than Advice They want trust, empathy, and someone who listens. Legal skills matter, but human connection wins clients for life. 6️⃣ The Best Lawyers Never Stop Evolving The law changes, and so should you. Stay curious. Stay sharp. Stay ahead. 7️⃣ Mentors = Secret Weapons Find someone who’s been where you want to go. The right mentor will save you years of trial and error. 8️⃣ Burnout Is the Silent Killer The late nights will come, but don’t make them your norm. Protect your energy—because no case is worth your health. 9️⃣ Pick Your Battles Not every fight is worth the courtroom. Strategic restraint is a superpower. 🔟 Mistakes Are Inevitable Here’s the secret: It’s not about never failing—it’s about how you bounce back. Own it, learn from it, and keep moving. 1️⃣1️⃣ It’s a Marathon, Not a Sprint You don’t need to win every deal or impress every partner. Pacing yourself is how you last in this game. 1️⃣2️⃣ Never Lose Sight of Your WHY When the grind feels endless (and it will), your WHY will keep you grounded. Don’t let go of it—it’s your anchor. Law school taught you the law. But no one taught you how to build a career in it. Lawyers reading this, did I miss anything? What else would you add to my list? --- Repost this♻️ to help the juniors out there! ➕ Follow Shulin Lee for more. P.S. To the trainees starting out: It’s okay to feel scared. P.P.S. The partners you’re intimidated by? They were once where you are. Everyone starts somewhere. You've got this!

🎣 “They didn’t even cc me.” This was how Yumi, a senior marketing director, found out her billion-dollar product had been repositioned, without her input. The project she had been leading for 18 months was suddenly reporting into someone else. She didn’t mess up. She wasn’t underperforming. She just wasn’t "there". Not at the executive offsite. Not at the Friday “golf and growth” circle. Not at the CEO’s birthday dinner her male peer casually got invited to. She was busy being excellent. They were busy being bonded. 🍷 When she asked her boss about the change, he was surprised: “You’re usually aligned with the bigger picture, so we assumed it’d be fine.” In Workplace politic-ish: Yumi was predictable. Available. Yet not powerful enough to be consulted. 🔍 What actually happened here? Women are told to build relationships. Men build alliances. Women maintain connections. Men maintain relevance in power circles. It’s not about how many people like you. It’s about how many people speak your name when you’re not in the room. And in most companies, the real decisions - about budget, headcount, succession, are made off-the-clock and off-the-record. 📌 So, how do you stop getting edited out of influence? Try these: 1. 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗺𝗮𝗽.    Not the org chart. The whisper network / shadow organistion.    Who gets invited to early product reviews?    Who influences without title?    Start mapping that!     2. 𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗲-𝗱𝗿𝗼𝗽 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁.    If your name hasn’t been mentioned by 3 different people in senior leadership this month, you are invisible to power, even if you’re a top performer.     3. 𝗥𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴.    Skip the webinars and female empowerment panels.    Start showing up where strategy happens: QBRs, investor briefings, offsite planning, cross-functional war rooms.     4. 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗹.    Schedule recurring 1:1s with lateral stakeholders, not to “catch up,” but to co-build. Influence travels faster across than up.     5. 𝗕𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝘀𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗵𝘂𝗿𝘁𝘀.    If you vanished for 2 weeks and no one noticed, you’re not central enough to promote.     🧨 If any of this feels raw, it’s because it is. Brilliant women are being rewritten out of their own stories, not for lack of performance, but for lack of positioning. That’s why Uma, Grace and I created 👊 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗢𝘂𝘁𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿: 𝗠𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀👊 A course for women who are done watching strategic mediocrity rise while they wait for recognition. It’s not about becoming someone else. It’s about learning the rules that were never designed for us, and playing like you intend to win. 🔗 Get it if you’re ready, link in comment. Or wait until they “assume you’d be aligned,” too.